George in front of our hotel--looks like an average, older hotel . . .
but this is what is exactly across the street from it!
With its absolutely straight-up mountains, low-lying clouds, and loud, rushing waters, you think you are almost in heaven!
A little further along the street.
All of this right outside our hotel front door!
Even the chickens are colorful!
From our hotel, we walked up the street to where we would catch our shuttle bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu.
To think that Machu Picchu wasn't even discovered until 1911, this area has rapidly become one of the most fascinating places in the world to visit as well as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World! With over 1,000,000 visitors per year, this little town is really abuzz with everyone waiting their turn to board the shuttle buses that you can see on the left.
This is such a quaint little town with little restaurants and a whole shopping area of Peruvian articles to purchase.
After boarding the shuttle, it took us about 25 minutes to make the ascent to our destination--the Incan Citadel of Machu Picchu!!
It was a very winding road, with sharp corners and no barriers on the edge of the road. Pretty scary at times!
See how far up we are from the river . . .
and now we are even higher--one of those roofs down below is our hotel!
Almost there!
We had now reached the elevation of 7,970 feet above sea level.
After getting out of the van, we walked down the path from the entrance and there we were--it truly was a sight I will never forget! You are literally in the clouds--it felt absolutely magical!
No wonder this location of the grand Incan Empire is one of the Seven New Wonders of the World! This is considered the royal estate for the Incan Emperors or Nobles.
With 600 terraces, over 170 buildings, several temples, and thousands of steps, you could take weeks to explore all of this!
No words nor pictures does this place justice! It is just absolutely jaw-dropping!
Our whole group.
Our guide telling us of the history of Machu Picchu at the entrance before we set out to climb the roughly carved, uneven steps. It was pretty intense climbing (with the descending even more difficult), especially when it started raining a few hours later and made the rocks very slippery. Notice the two men behind our group.
This is one of the workers who is literally cleaning the rocks with a special cleaner on a toothbrush in the areas where people touched the most! This left a stain on the rocks after awhile. He definitely has job security for his great grandchildren and beyond if they want to continue with his job!
Without machines, metal tools,
or wheels, the Incas built structures that harmonize with natural outcroppings
of stones found on the mountain tops.
Rock carved out like the silhouette of the famous peak.
Rock carved out like the silhouette of the famous peak.
Archaeologists have identified several distinct sectors that together
comprise the city, including a farming zone, a residential
neighborhood, a royal district and a sacred area.
The Temple of the Sun
Below the temple is this royal tomb.
Everywhere we went, we noticed the hexagonal entrances and window openings that are the Inca trademark.
Rainfall was and still is a major problem with the structures at Machu Picchu with an annual rainfall of 79 inches! To drain the heavy rainfall, the Incas carved channels in the rock for the runoff.
We definitely saw these channels in action with the rainfall that we experienced the last half of the day! There are actually 16 water fountains located here.
In one of the residential houses we went in, there's a bedrock (with a snail on it) that we were told was probably used for astronomical ends. It was carved so that it projects a circular pattern on the floor at noon on October 30 and February 14. The Incas were very knowledgeable and figured out ways to keep track of time in such unique ways!
Inside the Noble House are these stone cooking areas.
Another way the Incas used in order to prevent mud slides, landslides, erosions, and flooding were by making terraces with stone chips and gravel. These terraces were layered with stone chips and gravel, sand, dirt, and then topsoil, to soak water in and prevent it from running down the mountain.
A little critter walking along the paths, too.
As we continued our walk to the bottom, we noticed a field of grazing llamas.
This is actually the Main Square. It was a place for ceremonial and social activities. Given its size, many people could participate in the ceremonies, which also had excellent acoustic qualities.
And finally we were down there right by those llamas.
The Temple of the Three Windows
When the sun's rays enter through the three windows, they produce a projection of symmetrical shadows on exactly June 21st each year on this stepped up cross.
When the sun's rays enter through the three windows, they produce a projection of symmetrical shadows on exactly June 21st each year on this stepped up cross.
The Sacred Plaza where a rock is being transported (no wheels were used).
This is the Waka (meaning carved rock) that was used for funeral ritual purposes. Three tombs were found here.
This is the Waka (meaning carved rock) that was used for funeral ritual purposes. Three tombs were found here. 
It is amazing the masonry technique mastered by the
Incas in which stones were cut to fit together without mortar. This is one of the only places where we could see the stones slipping apart--I doubt any of our buildings today could survive over 500 years! This is the Main Temple.
Without the use of iron chisels, the Incans used hammerstone and river rock to carve the stone walls.
These stones are believed to have been designed as an astronomic clock or calendar by the Incas.
We were so blessed to have great weather the first part of the tour, but when the typical rain came down, we were surely glad we had our rain ponchos with us!
After the tour, we had our passports stamped with the awesome MP insignia, and then ate a wonderful lunch buffet at the Sanctuary Lodge located just outside the entrance.
We took the 25-minute shuttle bus back down the mountain to our hotel.
The husbands stayed in the lobby to rest and use the internet, but Pam, Joyce, and I went off to the shops. We loved seeing the beautiful items that the Peruvian people make--and yes, maybe a sale or two was made!
We all met back up at the train station.
One last picture of some darling little Peruvian children.
We now rode the train the hour and a half back to the hotel where we stayed before in Cusco that had stored our big luggage.
Dan, George, me, and Pam riding the train back to Cusco.
I was still snapping pictures through the train windows.
1 comment:
This was definitely a "bucket list" experience! I have wanted to travel to Machu Picchu for such a long time, and our day there did NOT DISAPPOINT! And, as you and I discussed, everything we did and saw in Peru was just amazing. I would go there again tomorrow. Thanks again for taking the time to post your pictures and explanations!!!
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